How Much Control Do We Really Have?
Part 2 of 3: Personal Will and Universal Will
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
— Maya Angelou —
Have you ever worked so hard for something, only to feel like the universe was shutting every door in your face? Or, on the flip side, made a random decision that led to something incredible—almost as if it was meant to happen?
Last time, we explored the tension between free will and fate. But there’s another dynamic at play: Personal Will and Universal Will. Understanding the relationship between them can help us figure out when to push forward, and when to trust the bigger picture.
What’s the Difference?
Personal Will: The Power of Choice
Personal Will is what gives us control over our own lives. It’s our ambition, determination, and the ability to make decisions. It’s what drives us to chase dreams, overcome obstacles, and shape our own story.
Without Personal Will, we wouldn’t grow. We’d just be passive participants in life.
Universal Will: The Bigger Flow of Life
Universal Will, on the other hand, is something greater than us. It’s the unseen force that moves things forward—some might call it destiny, divine timing, or the natural order of things.
It doesn’t control us, but it does create the environment in which we act. It allows us to exercise our free will, but ultimately, some things are out of our hands.
The real magic happens when the two align.
A Real-Life Example: J.K. Rowling and the Making of Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling didn’t just wake up one day as the best-selling author of all time. She had a dream, but the road to success was anything but easy.
She wrote the first Harry Potter book while struggling as a single mother, often writing in cafés with her sleeping baby beside her. She faced rejection after rejection—twelve publishers turned her down. She could have given up. She could have decided that writing wasn’t worth the struggle.
But she didn’t.
Her Personal Will kept her going. She kept writing. She kept submitting. She refused to let failure stop her.
Then, something shifted. A small publishing house, Bloomsbury, finally accepted her manuscript. The reason? The chairman’s eight-year-old daughter read the first chapter and begged to read more.
That was Universal Will in action. It made things happen at the other end. Things which were beyond the control and purview of Personal Will.
The world was made ready for Harry Potter. People were craving a story like hers, and when her book finally hit the shelves, it took off in a way no one could have predicted. Had she stopped trying after the twelfth rejection, we might never have known the world of Hogwarts.
This is how Personal Will and Universal Will work together. We can push as hard as we like, but sometimes, things don’t happen until the universe is made ready for them.
How Do We Use Both?
So, how do we know when to push forward and when to trust the process?
Keep showing up. If something matters to you, don’t give up at the first (or twelfth) obstacle. Persistence is key.
Recognise when doors are staying shut. Sometimes, rejection is redirection. If you keep hitting a dead end, consider whether a different approach—or even a different path—is needed.
Trust the timing. Just because something isn’t happening now doesn’t mean it won’t happen ever. The right thing at the wrong time can still be the wrong thing.
What’s Next?
In the next post, we’ll explore how our Environment—the people, places, and circumstances around us—affects both our Personal Will and Universal Will. Do we shape the world, or does the world shape us?
For now, ask yourself:
Am I forcing something that isn’t working, or do I need to push through?
Have I ever had a moment where everything suddenly fell into place?
How do I balance taking control and trusting the process?
Maybe real secret to life isn’t controlling everything, but knowing when to act—and when to trust the current.
Footnote
I first became a student of astrology after encountering the many misconceptions surrounding it. What began as curiosity turned into a deeper study, revealing a nuanced system far removed from the simplistic stereotypes often portrayed.
Thank you for reading. I hope you found it enjoyable.